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HB 775

HEALTH/CHILDREN: Provides relative to minor's consent for medical procedures and treatments

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Roy Adams and 13 co-sponsors

Louisiana HB 775 requires parental consent for most medical and mental health care for minors under 17, with narrow exceptions for specific situations.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 775

Summary of HB 775 (2026, Louisiana) — Health/Children: Minor’s Consent for Medical Procedures and Treatments

Purpose and Intent

  • This bill Overhauls the framework for when minors can consent to medical and mental health services, shifting from a system that largely recognizes minor consent to a system that requires informed parental consent for most medical and mental health care until age 17.
  • It repeals several existing provisions that treat certain minor-consent scenarios as valid without parental involvement, and it expands parental access to information about the minor’s medical care.

Key Provisions

A. Requirement for Parental Consent

  • Repeals current law that allows minors to consent to medical or surgical care or services (and to certain mental health services) without parental consent in most situations.
  • Replaces with a requirement that consent for all medical and mental health services provided to a minor must be given by a person who lawfully exercises parental authority over the minor (e.g., parent, guardian) until the minor reaches age 17.
  • The explicit consent requirement applies to hospitals, clinics, and physicians licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana.

B. Exceptions Where Minor Consent Is Allowed (Under Specific Conditions)

  • The bill lists several circumstances in which a minor can consent to certain medical or mental health care without parental consent:
    • Minor is in the U.S. armed forces or is emancipated.
    • Minor is pregnant and seeks care related to the pregnancy.
    • Minor seeks treatment for alcohol or substance misuse.
    • Minor seeks care for sexually transmitted diseases.
    • Minor donates blood.
    • Minor is suspected by a healthcare provider of abuse or neglect.
    • Minor voluntarily seeks admission to a treatment facility (per Children’s Code Article 1464).
  • These exceptions are intended to allow certain sensitive or urgent health needs to be addressed without mandatory parental consent.

C. Emergency Exceptions

  • Consent for surgical or medical treatment for a minor under 18 may be implied in emergency situations, aligning with existing emergency consent norms.

D. Information Disclosure and Records

  • Parental access to records: Parents, tutors, or legal guardians must be provided with copies of information related to the patient that the provider has transmitted to public or private entities (or persons). This reinforces parental access to the minor’s medical information.

E. Liability Protections

  • The bill provides that no licensed healthcare facility or licensed healthcare provider shall incur civil or criminal liability for examinations, diagnoses, or treatments conducted in conformance with the new provisions, except for negligence.

F. Repealed Provisions

  • Repeals multiple existing provisions (R.S. 40:1079.2, 1079.3, and 1079.13) and removes:
    • Provisions that allowed minor consent for certain conditions (e.g., minor addiction to narcotics or drugs for consent to care).
    • Provisions relating to blood donation compensation and blood/tissue donation consent by minors.
    • Provisions allowing schools/facilities to provide preventive counseling or treatment to a minor without parental consent under certain conditions, and related procedures.

Who Is Affected

  • Minors in Louisiana: The primary impact is on the circumstances under which they can consent to medical and mental health services without parent/guardian involvement.
  • Parents, guardians, and tutors: Expanded role in authorizing and accessing their child’s medical care and records.
  • Hospitals, clinics, and physicians: New requirements for obtaining parental consent and potential liability changes for compliance.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective date: Not explicitly stated in the summary text provided; the bill details would specify effective dates and any transition rules.
  • The bill amends and reenacts certain statutes and repeals others, indicating a substantial legal shift that would require updates to policies, forms, and procedures in medical facilities and schools.

Overall Impact

  • The bill represents a significant shift toward requiring parental involvement in minor health decisions, with narrow statutory exceptions for specific circumstances.
  • It enhances parental access to medical records and clarifies liability protections for providers acting within the new framework.
  • Stakeholders (parents, healthcare providers, schools) would need to adjust consent processes, record-keeping, and communications around minor health services.

For a complete understanding, readers should review the full bill text, including any effective dates, definitions, and transition provisions not captured in this summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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